11 Pro Last Minute Tips for IELTS Speaking Exam Success

Last Minute Tips for IELTS Speaking- Feeling a lot of tension! Tomorrow is the Speaking Module exam, and I don’t know how it will be,

What the examiner will be like,

Whether the examiner will follow a set route, or

If something unexpected happens.

What if the examiner takes offense to something I say?

What if my opinion is not liked?

I have no idea what will happen.

All these worries are on our minds before the exam, and just a few hours before the exam, our minds are filled with many such kinds of thoughts. This blog post is for you, so you can know what to do and what not to do just before your exam. What are the last-minute tips for IELTS speaking? Is it just sleep that’s essential, or are there other things you should do to ensure your score is good? Let’s get started!

Crucial Time

In this crucial period, you’ve gathered as much information as you could, whether it’s related to grammar, vocabulary, speaking module formats, or the field itself. You’ve even upgraded your English skills after a long time of practice. Therefore, at the last moment, you can’t learn anything new. Your mind is already filled with a lot of things. It’s not possible to give it some new input now.

Hence, just follow some last-minute tips for IELTS Speaking as mentioned below so that you can give your best performance in the exam. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

Expert Last Minute Tips for IELTS Speaking Exam

• Be confident

Our confidence is our greatest strength. It’s often said that even if we don’t know the answer to a question, being confident helps us attend to it well. Therefore, it’s crucial to stay confident; it allows us to handle situations effectively, even when we may not have all the answers.

• Don’t feel shy

If you feel shy here, it might affect your performance. So, there’s no need to be shy. Speak as much as you can. Try to engage with the examiner. The examiner will guide the conversation, but you should always respond. Don’t worry about speaking too much; just make sure what you say is relevant and of good quality. Speaking more will contribute to a better band score

• Be natural

Stay true to yourself, avoid any pretense, and don’t try to be different. Speak in a completely natural way, just like you do in your daily routine. Answer the examiner’s questions while sitting there. If you try to pretend even a little, it can negatively impact your band score. So, stay natural and do well. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

• Pay attention to the questions

Don’t be in a hurry to answer a question. Listen carefully to what the examiner is asking before responding. You wouldn’t want a situation where the examiner is asking one thing, and you’re answering something else entirely.

• Ask to repeat the question

If you don’t understand the examiner’s question, please ask them to repeat it. It’s better to ask for clarification than to give the wrong answer. Having clarity in the question is essential for providing the correct response.

• Elaborate your answers

Do not answer in just one word or in one or two lines, especially in Section 3. The more details you add, the better you express yourself in English. You can structure your response by first stating your point, then explaining it, and finally justifying it with an example. This will provide you with substantial content for elaborating your answer and showcasing your English speaking skills to the examiner.

• Don’t repeat the question of the examiner

Do not simply repeat the examiner’s question. For example, if the examiner asks “What was your favorite subject in the 12th grade”, instead of repeating ‘My favorite subject in the 12th grade was Mathematics,’ you can rephrase it by saying, ‘Mathematics was the subject I enjoyed the most during my high school years. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

• If you do not know the answer, tell them

You may encounter a question in the exam for which you don’t know the answer, especially if you are not well aware of a certain field.

In such a situation, you can tell the examiner that you don’t have much knowledge about that area, but based on whatever I know, I will attempt to answer the question to the best of my ability.

When you present yourself in this way, it helps the examiner understand that in a scenario where you might get stuck, not knowing something, you still know how to express it in English.

• Speak clearly all the time

Your words should come out of your mouth, not stay inside as if you’re speaking in your mind, making it hard for the examiner to hear you clearly.

• If required, correct yourself

It’s possible that while speaking, you might unintentionally say something wrong. Don’t worry; it’s okay. Correct yourself without getting flustered. If you correct yourself during the exam, it shows that you can recognize and rectify mistakes. The examiner will understand it as a slip of the tongue. Just remember not to overdo the corrections. If it happens once or twice, it’s not a problem. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

• Avoid forced accent

Don’t attempt any accent that you’re not familiar with. Follow your natural accent during the exam. Pay close attention to this.

• Do not use fillers

At the last minute, remember not to use fillers. When we use fillers, our speech doesn’t sound as impressive. So, remember to avoid fillers like ‘um’ and ‘uh.’ Keep it in mind, avoid the fillers.

• Remember, you don’t have to be to be honest

IELTS is not a character certificate, so there’s no need to worry about what the examiner will think of you based on your opinions. The exam has no concern with your personal opinions; it only evaluates your language skills. Therefore, instead of concentrating on your character, focus on presenting your language skills effectively. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

• Don’t memorize

At the last moment, avoid making the mistake of memorizing answers. If you do this, the examiner will instantly realize it. Don’t cram, just understand whatever you can at that moment. You’ll perform well in the exam because you’ve understood it.

• Nothing is Right or Wrong

In IELTS, there is nothing right or wrong. IELTS is a language test, and the examiner doesn’t care whether you are giving wrong or right answers. What matters to the examiner is whether you are expressing your answers in English correctly or not.

• Maintain pace

At the last moment, remember to maintain a consistent pace. Avoid situations where you’re answering one question very quickly and another very slowly. Keep a regular rhythm, just like you would in your normal life. Because, in the end, it’s just a discussion with the examiner, and it’s okay to keep it that way.

• Use correct tense

Because English is not our mother tongue, sometimes we get tangled up in answering, and it happens that we mess up with the tenses. We often forget which tense the question was in, and inadvertently provide answers in the wrong tense.

For instance, if the examiner asks about the subject you studied in graduation and the question is in the past tense, make sure not to answer in the present tense. Be cautious not to say, ‘I am studying this subject in graduation’ when the correct response should be, ‘I studied this subject in graduation,’ considering the question was in the past tense. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

• Right pronunciation

Pronunciation matters a lot in English because mispronunciation can completely change the meaning of a word. For example, there is a word in English “ADDRESS” which has two pronunciations. One ‘Address’ refers to how we greet someone, while the other ‘address’ means inquiring about a location. So, pay close attention to pronunciation.

• Do not use fancy words

Right before the exam, avoid cramming new and fancy vocabulary words. Stick to what you already know because using fancy vocabulary words in the exam, whose meanings you are not sure of, can lead to confusion.

If you use a sophisticated vocabulary word without understanding its meaning and misapply it in a given situation, it might negatively impact your score.

• Hesitation

It’s okay if you have content-related hesitation but vocabulary-related hesitation should not be there. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

• Don’t be nervous, the examiner is also a human like you

The person conducting your speaking test is also a human being, just like you. They are normal human beings, so there is no need to take unnecessary tension or get nervous about what might happen there.

They are doing their job well; you do your job well too.

Section Wise- Last Minute Tips for IELTS Speaking Test

The main aspects of these sections that you should take care of are:

1. Timing
2. Scoring

In the IELTS Speaking Module, there are 3 sections:

• Introduction
• Cue Card
• Discussion

Let’s have a quick look at the last-minute tips for all the sections one by one.

Section 1 – Introduction

As in this section, the examiner will ask you questions based on your life, your family, your country, and more. So, do not go into much detail, give straightforward answers. This is more like a warming-up section.

Quick Tips for Section 1:

1. Do not give a one-word answer like “Yes” or “No”
2. Attach one or two-liner explanation.
3.  Your answer should be short but complete.
4. This is the best section to develop confidence and make yourself comfortable with the examiner.
5. For example: if the question is “Do you like pasta?” Instead of saying “Yes” or “No”, you can say: “I don’t like it, but if I have to eat, I’ll have it.”

Section 2- Cue Card

Here, the examiners check if you can speak continuously in English if you can organize your ideas, and if you have enough vocabulary to express yourself consistently.

Quick Tips for Section 2:

1. Utilize your 1 minute preparation time effectively
2. Write triggers point
3. Also, note down vocabulary and connectors in short to have an idea
4. Do not write complete sentences
5. Instead of using fillers, take a short pause
6. Keep the paper in front of you to have an idea of what to say next
7. Relax

Section 3- Discussion

In this area, the test is conducted to evaluate how well you can present your arguments, how effectively you can articulate your thoughts, and how adept you are at maintaining your point of view. You will be assessed in various ways, and you might face questions that require more than just a one or two-line answer.

Quick Tips for Section 3:

1. Your answer should be detailed.
2. Do not give short answers.
3. What matters, is your answer in English, not your opinion.
4. Give an example

Exam Day Tips

Although we often hear and understand exam day tips since childhood, sometimes we get so stressed that we tend to forget those things. So, I am just reminding those key points for your exam preparation.

Following these tips is crucial, don’t forget them; they will greatly benefit your performance in the exam and you can perform really well. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

1. Keep yourself hydrated

The exam tension gets so high that we often forget to drink water, and it negatively impacts our bodies. This can lead to confusion during the exam. It’s important to remember that our body needs fuel to function properly. So, keep yourself hydrated, and don’t forget to drink water regularly.

2. Reach before time

If we arrive late for the exam, it creates mental and physical stress because we have to rush. It’s better to reach the exam center on time rather than wasting time at home or on the way.

Arriving early allows us to sit comfortably, relax, and concentrate on our exams. It’s advisable to spend time calmly and focused so that when you enter the exam hall, you face the examiner confidently and without any stress. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

A fresh mind always performs better than a tired one. A rested mind is more effective in handling tests and tasks.

3. Wear Comfortable Clothes

In the IELTS exam, one great thing is that there is no dress code. So, wear the clothes in which you feel the most comfortable. Choose garments that allow you to focus entirely on your exam rather than getting distracted by adjusting your clothes or dealing with irritation caused by them.

4. Be sure about time and date

This mistake often happens to many people when we check the wrong time or date for the exam. So please, before the exam, double-check your date and time to ensure there are no problems on the D-day.

5. ID proof is a must

It’s quite common for us to forget our documents on the day of the exam or overlook getting our photocopies done. Similar situations may arise. So please, make sure to carry your ID proof, and your original passport should be with you on the exam day. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

6. Leave Gadgets

Inside the examination room, you won’t be allowed to carry any gadgets, whether it’s your watch or your mobile phone. So, it’s better to leave your gadgets at home to avoid the tension of keeping them there.

Otherwise, you might end up worrying about your belongings during the exam, thinking about the possibilities of plans or problems arising. Therefore, leave your gadgets at home, bring your relaxed mindset with you, and perform well in your exam.

7. Don’t worry about stationery

You don’t need to stress about any pen, pencil, or paper. There’s no need to carry anything; you will find everything at the examination center. Just one thing is essential – your relaxed mind and body.

8. Take a moment for yourself

Before exams, take some time for yourself. Watch a good show, listen to some soothing music, or simply relax. It’s essential to refresh your mood for better performance. So, give yourself a few minutes of peace. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

What should I do the night before my IELTS speaking test?

1. Sleep Well

Get a good night’s sleep. When you wake up in the morning, try to rise without any stress and aim to be in your bed by 10:00 PM. A good sleep between 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM is crucial.

During this time, our mind recharges itself. If we miss this window and sleep later, even until 8:00 or 9:00 AM, it doesn’t bring the same freshness. So, the period from 10:00 to 12:00 is essential. Avoid looking at your phone or studying during that time. Just sleep well!

2. Avoid Last Minute Study

Do as much studying as you can during your preparation time. Now, don’t overburden yourself with too much studies in half an hour because this is not an academic exam where you need to learn a few lines. It’s a language test where you have to perform well in your language. So, never do last-minute study; it only adds stress and nothing more. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

3. Be Positive

Always stay positive because, in this exam, there is no right or wrong. It’s just an English test, so even if you get an answer wrong, as long as your English is correct, there is no problem at all.

4. Organize Your Documents

Check the list of required documents and arrange everything accordingly. Make sure you organize everything the night before the exam so that when you leave for your exam in the morning, everything is ready.

Avoid the last-minute rush of arranging documents in the morning, ensuring you leave for the exam with a fresh mind. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

5. Stay Away from Mobile Phone

Looking at your mobile is fine; it’s a habit for everyone. However, it’s essential to stay away from your mobile the night before your exam. Avoid checking any social media, videos, or games. Focus on your exam and keep a relaxed mind. It’s crucial to bring a fresh mind to exams rather than being distracted by other things.

6. Do not discuss till the last minute with your friends

It’s a common habit for everyone to keep discussing with friends or teachers until the last minute. There is no need to do anything extra at the last moment.

You have done all the preparation that was needed. Last-minute discussions won’t make much difference. Just relax and let go of everything.

7. Do not Overthink       

You’ve studied well, and your preparation for the next exam is excellent. Just think about that, and don’t overthink. Avoid overthinking; it’s not necessary.

Remember, the night before is not the time for major preparation; it’s about ensuring you are physically and mentally ready for the test. Approach the speaking test with confidence and a calm demeanor. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

A week before the exam tips

Evaluation Criteria

To secure good scores in any exam, it is crucial to understand the basis on which scores are awarded. It’s important to know what aspects are tested and what specific skills are being evaluated.

Therefore, a few days before the exam or whenever you start preparing for it, make sure to refer to the speaking band descriptors. This will help you understand what the examiner actually expects from you. (last minute tips for ielts speaking)

Do’s and Don’ts of the IELTS Speaking Exam

This is a must. You must go through all the dos and don’ts of the IELTS Speaking Exam to score good band and to avoid stupid mistakes.

FAQs

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